SBE Announces 2010-2011 National Award Winners

August 3, 2011

Indianapolis, IN - Jul 29, 2011 - The Society of Broadcast Engineers has announced the winners of its 2010-2011 National Awards. The awards program recognizes those who have contributed to SBE, the industry or their SBE chapters in a number of categories.

An article from Radio magazine has received the SBE award every year since 2002. An article from 1999 also received the honor.

The winner of the SBE Broadcast Engineer of the Year Award is Al Grossniklaus, P.E., CBNT. Grossniklaus is director of engineering for WTHR-TV in Indianapolis. Grossniklaus is recognized for making significant contributions to the field of broadcast engineering through his work at WTHR and for furthering the goals and objectives of the SBE.

Recipients of the SBE Broadcast Engineer of the Year Award are recognized for making significant contributions to the field of broadcast engineering and/or for furthering the goals and objectives of the Society. They must be members of the Society and are nominated by their peers.

The 2010-2011 SBE Educator of the Year Award will be presented to Steve Lampen, CBRE. Lampen travels extensively each year on behalf of his employer, Belden. While representing the Belden line, Lampen is known as one of the most interesting and effective speakers in the business, utilizing his knowledge and humor in visits to SBE chapters, presentations at Ennes Workshops and other meetings of broadcast engineers.

Nautel will be awarded the SBE Technology Award for its Advanced User Interface (AUI) and associated productivity technologies.

Local SBE chapters have also earned awards based on their own achievements. Some categories recognize two chapters, based on their size. Class A represents those chapters whose membership is less than the national median while Class B are those chapters that have membership greater than the national median.

Chapter 24, Madison, WI, is being recognized for their achievements with three awards including Best Chapter Website, Best Regional Convention and Best Chapter Newsletter.

The award for Most Certified Chapter goes to Chapter 118, Montgomery, AL, in Class A and Chapter 131, Inland Empire in Class B. The Chapter with Greatest Percentage Growth of New Members Award is being presented to Chapter 44, Shreveport, LA, in Class A and Chapter 25, Indianapolis in Class B. The Chapter with Highest Percentage of Member Attendance at Meetings Award goes to Chapter 136, Rio Grande Valley in Class A and Chapter 76, Eugene, OR.

Award winners will be recognized at the Society's National Awards Dinner on Sept. 28, 2011 in Columbus, OH. The event is part of the annual SBE National Meeting, which is being held in conjunction with the Ohio Broadcast Engineering Conference, sponsored by the Ohio Association of Broadcasters.